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Thursday Letters

It has been a delight to have Mr. Bob Gabordi these nine years as executive editor of the Tallahassee Democrat.

Gabordi is a wonderful piece of Americana: a rah-rah patriot, Rotary Club-gavel wielding, Chamber of Commerce human pamphlet of insistent boosterism, right out of Sinclair Lewis.

On the other hand, Gabordi frequently reminded us of the Madisonian injunction: engage. That is, aside from his occasional preening, Gabordi was a thoughtful citizen.

He gave us — through his column, at talks at senior centers, town halls and walks around parks and in neighborhoods — marvelous displays of avuncular wisdom on how best to improve communal life.

As a professional out-of-towner, Gabordi delved into life in Tallahassee, made an impression through relentless energy and focus, and expanded the platform of the executive editor — which until his arrival, was a quiet position.

He embraced market dynamism with clumsy tenacity, improving the aesthetic condition of the newspaper's website, risking paid subscription before it became the industry standard, and giving new meaning to the term "corporate speak" with his universally derided three Rs.

Still, Gabordi's term was not a loss, but a gain. The city gained much in amusement and pleasure, and we shall miss this endlessly rich American character.

CHRIS TIMMONS

Lack of term limits failed Washington, D.C.

When evaluating the suggestion by Bill Cotterell and professor Kathryn DePalo that Florida do away with legislative term limits (‘Throw the bums out’ feels good, but doesn’t help, Dec. 21), readers need ask themselves just one question: Is the Washington, D.C., legislative model a success?

If you believe the Washington model — no term limits and politicians spending decades in office — has been great, then by all means embrace Mr. Cotterell and Ms. DePalo's desire to bring it here to Florida.

But if you believe, as most Americans do, that the Washington model is a failure — that it has engendered massive dysfunction, debt, corruption and gridlock —then it is incumbent upon you to stand up for Florida's term limits law and against any attempts to undermine it.

Polls show that 79 percent of Floridians oppose any change to term limits. Judging by how Washington operates in a term-limit-free environment, the people once again have it right.